2/internal/media/dispatcher/6641/fullA monk offering alms in a church (R.) / Various sketches (V.)Giovanni BalducciFAS/D/27505904824(R.) A monk offering alms in a church in front of an altar. / (V.) Various studies which include: a banquet scene with figures around a table, a scene with four figures around a font, an arm holding an ewer, and two hands holding goblets./internal/media/dispatcher/13758/fullSt Catherine of Alexandria disputing with the Fifty Philosophersc. 1580-1630Giovanni BalducciFAS/D/2354898761194The scene depicted shows St Catherine of Alexandria, in the centre, a highly intelligent and devout Christian woman, disputing with fifty pagan philosophers, featured behind her, at the request of Emperor Maxentius, who is the second figure on the left, seated on a throne. The emperor hoped to convince her to renounce her faith, but Catherine's eloquent arguments and conversion of the philosophers instead led to her own martyrdom.